Courageous & Authentic Leadership

By Christina M. Gullo

Courageous & Authentic Leadership draws its inspiration from the author’s professional experience of being a leader and CEO in a career spanning over 25 years. In 2010, Christina Gullo had made the decision to lead Saint Joseph's Villa (now Villa of Hope) and successfully transformed its work culture and improved the services provided to clients, all while leading through an unprecedented global pandemic.

Being the first in her family to graduate from college, Christina Gullo has paved her own path into the world of social work and business, providing aid to those who need it most. Within these chapters you will learn how to; take risks, follow your gut, establish company values & guiding principles and embed them into your organization, all while committing to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Courageous & Authentic Leadership provides a personal journey of being a leader, the actions one can take to ensure this role is successful and impactful, and the qualities that will help inspire and shape an individual or organization.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richter Publishing LLC
• Release date: Apr 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224121519

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Copyright © Christina M. Gullo 2024

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Book Cover Design: Richter Publishing with stock art from RF123.com

Editors: Selena Mouzon, Austin Hatch & Abigail Bunner

Additional Contributors: Tara Richter

Publisher: Richter Publishing LLC www.richterpublishing.com

ISBN-13: 978-1-954094-52-9 Ebook

DISCLAIMER

This book is designed to provide information on leadership only. This information is provided and sold with the knowledge that the publisher and author do not offer any legal or medical advice. In the case of a need for any such expertise, consult with the appropriate professional. This book does not contain all information available on the subject. This book has not been created to be specific to any individual’s or organization’s situation or needs. Every effort has been made to make this book as accurate as possible. However, there may be typographical and/ or content errors. Therefore, this book should serve only as a general guide and not as the ultimate source of subject information. This book contains information that might be dated and is intended only to educate and entertain. The author and publisher shall have no liability or responsibility to any person or entity regarding any loss or damage incurred, or alleged to have incurred, directly or indirectly, by the information contained in this book. You hereby agree to be bound by this disclaimer or you may return this book within the guarantee time period for a full refund. In the interest of full disclosure, this book may contain affiliate links that might pay the author or publisher a commission upon any purchase from the company. While the author and publisher take no responsibility for the business practices of these companies and or the performance of any product or service, the author or publisher has used the product or service and makes a recommendation in good faith based on that experience. All characters appearing in this work have given permission. Any resemblance to other real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The opinions and stories in this book are the views of the author and not that of the publisher.

FOREWORD

At the risk of sounding mellow dramatic, if you stay in leadership long enough, you will eventually reach a crossroads. A moment that will be career defining. A moment when your courage and authenticity will be challenged. A moment that, once passed, will tell everyone who you really are.

After 25 years in the C-suite, leading organizational turnarounds, and managing the people & culture integration of multiple mergers, I have faced such a moment, and can say with complete confidence that leading with courage and authenticity comes at a cost. But, as we say in Florida, The juice is worth the squeeze!.

When I think of the person most qualified to tackle this topic, Christina Gullo is at the top of my mind. I had the privilege of standing next to her when she had her moment at the crossroads, and I learned that she lives by a set of values that inform every decision and interaction involving the people she leads. I learned that Christina was exactly who she told me she was. After reading this book, you will owe her a debt of gratitude for courageously and authentically pulling back the curtain on her leadership journey; enabling you to benefit from the lessons she has learned.

~ Tony Moore

Culture Architect, Author, Keynote Speaker, Recovering HR Executive

DEDICATION

To my amazing husband, John Mueller, who without his support and coverage at home, I would not have been able to do what I did at the Villa. And to my daughter, Alexandra Paulus, who sometimes had to sacrifice time spent with me due to my job responsibilities, but even at the age of five when I began, knew the important work I was doing was impacting other lives. And to my supportive coaches and mentors, especially Carolyn Portanova, Mary Burkhardt, and Tony Moore, thank you for helping me succeed. Lastly, to my parents, Frank Gullo Jr. & Kathleen Gullo. Mom, for setting an example of a working mother, providing love and structure, and allowing me to travel with my Godmother every summer. Dad, thank you for teaching me how to work hard and not to procrastinate. You taught me to take risks and how to have a great work ethic amongst so many other things. And to the team at the Villa for stepping up and delivering amazing results, even during momentous change.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

1. A PERSONAL JOURNEY

2. MOVING INTO CEO ROLE

3. UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

4. NAME CHANGE

5. SANCTUARY MODEL

6. BUILDING A TEAM

7. STRATEGIC TRANSFORMATION & DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING

8. LEADING THROUGH A PANDEMIC

9. DECIDING WHEN TO EXIT

10. MY FATHER’S STORY

FINAL THOUGHTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

For my wonderful team at the Villa who led courageously with me, trusted the unknown, and took risks together. We all grew with each other on this journey.

INTRODUCTION

Most people cannot wait to finally be in a leadership position. If you’re a leader, then you’ve made it.